FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Town of Bedford Releases Final Report on Curbside Organics Pilot Project; Program Expansion Approved

Bedford, MA — July 18, 2025 — The Town of Bedford Department of Public Works (DPW) is pleased to announce the release of the final report for its six-month Curbside Organics Pilot Project, which ran from December 4, 2024 through May 28, 2025. The pilot explored household participation in curbside food waste diversion and examined its potential role in reducing overall trash volume.

At its July 14 meeting, the Bedford Select Board approved DPW’s request to accept a Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) grant for food waste carts and authorized expansion of the curbside organics program to a broader segment of Bedford residents. The expansion aligns with statewide goals to significantly reduce food waste and support more sustainable waste management practices.

More details on the expanded program rollout will be shared in the coming months.

Final Report: 2025 Curbside Organics Pilot Final Report (PDF)

Appendix Materials: Program Letter, Set Out Data, Volume Data, Mid-Project Survey, Final Survey 

Project Highlights and Key Findings:

The pilot, which targeted 477 households (approximately 10% of Bedford’s curbside service area), demonstrated that participating residents diverted an average of 9.51 pounds of food waste per week from the trash stream. This resulted in a measurable reduction in trash disposal costs—approximately $25 per year per household—while supporting Bedford’s climate goals by reducing reliance on waste incineration.

Despite positive results, the report found that participation was split evenly between households that opted in and those that declined. Reasons for non-participation ranged from logistical concerns to skepticism about the program's effectiveness, indicating that behavioral and cultural barriers—not cost—remain the primary challenge to widespread adoption.

The pilot also highlighted the effectiveness of direct mail outreach and prepaid response cards as tools to engage even traditionally hard-to-reach audiences.

Next Steps:

To build on the success of the pilot and prepare for future state regulations that may mandate food waste diversion at the household level, the Town will pursue a Preferred Vendor Agreement through a competitive bid process. The goal is to lower the cost of subscription-based food waste service for both current and future users while maintaining access to high-quality collection options.

The Town will also explore program enhancements based on recommendations from the report, including:

• Offering starter kits with wheeled carts and compostable bags;
• Using community-based outreach and real resident testimonials;
• Investigating subsidies or utility credits for residents who opt in;

“Bedford’s residents have shown that food waste diversion is both practical and impactful,” said Liz Antanavica, DPW Business Manager. “This pilot has provided a valuable roadmap as we move toward a more sustainable future and prepare for statewide changes in waste management policy.”